1/31/11

So some more shows (Wild Nothing with Abe Vigoda! Poison Control Center! Das Racist!) have been added since my original winter concert preview. I think there may be some other good ones just about ready to be announced, too. In the meantime, just thought I'd do a quick update to point out a bunch that may be of interest:

1/16/11

Asklandaganza IV can only be described as a huge success. It would be hard for me to say much more about the fourth annual birthday party of Vaudeville Mews booker Ladd Askland-- particularly anything analytical or rock critic-like-- because I was just having too much fun. Nick Lambert was named Man of the Year, a move that surprised him because he had thought he was helping Ladd choose the Poison Control Center's Patrick Tape Fleming (a mere ruse!). Wolves in the Attic and the Land of Blood & Sunshine and the Seed of Something and Canyons and Derek Lambert & the Prairie Fires (in their debut performance!) and of course PCC played awesome sets. John Huffman distributed Ladd's traditional everybody-in-the-place Black Velvet shots. Bob Nastanovich, back in Des Moines after touring the world with beloved group Pavement, was upstairs spinning records-- I asked him the name of one particularly danceable song three times, hoping to write it down, before he sort of jollily ("jollily"?) told me he had even better ones coming up so I should get back downstairs and keep dancing. It was Mrs. Des Noise's birthday, too, so we were back and forth from a little gathering with some friends at our place-- thanks a ton to everybody who came, glad our cat didn't kill anyone and our dog only peed on one person (at the same time the cat was vomiting) (sorry, Andrew). PCC played some new songs that I remember being a blast but couldn't tell you much more about. I don't think they played new plastic plate 7" "Porcelain Brain." (Wait, now I'm suddenly remembering singing along with it...) When we left I was pretty sure we had lost both Ladd and Chet Boom. But they were both found. Like I said, a huge success. You shoulda been there.

1/9/11

Winter, as we know, is already here. It's usually a quieter time for live music in central Iowa, or so I found out last year-- my first Des Moines winter (this one has been much better so far, knock on wood, fingers crossed, etc.). But anyway, there's still a fair amount of fun show-going to look forward to in the next couple of months. A few likely highlights are below-- any mistakes or anything I'm forgetting, just shout.

Parlours CD Release Party. Up-and-coming Des Moines folk-poppers who "Dream of Chicago" unveil their new EP for Aqui Estamos. They're joined by labelmate Cashes Rivers and fellow locals the River Monks. That's the late show; locals Hanwell, La Strange and So Much Fun play the early show. Jan. 14 21+ (late show) All Ages (early show) $5

ASKLANDAGANZA 4. High-energy Ames indie-rockers the Poison Control Center, fresh off a quick stint in Chicago recording the follow-up to last year's triumphant double-LP Sad Sour Future, show off what they've learned in their past year on the road next Saturday at Vaudeville Mews. They're joined at this annual birthday extravaganza for Mews booker Ladd Askland by Land of Blood and Sunshine and Derek Lambert & the Prairie Fires, with Bob Nastanovich (of Pavement fame) spinning records. Look for Bob this Jan. 20 on the Food Network. Lineup above is for the late show; talented locals Wolves in the Attic, Canyons, and the Seed of Something play the early show. Jan. 15 21+ (late show) All Ages (early show) $5

Maxilla Blue. It's a night of local hip-hop and it's for a good cause. Maxilla Blue plays Vaudeville Mews with Richie Daggers and Young Tripp along with PrettyGirlHateMachine and Neon Current, in a benefit for Hoodies for Humanity. That follows an early-show bill of local rock, with Why Make Clocks joined by the Chatty Cathys, Pocket Aristotle, the Seed of Something and Longshadowmen. Jan. 22 21+ $5 or free with donation of a clean, wearable hoodie (late show) and All Ages $5 (early show)

Lyrics Born. Bay Area rapper behind good times jams like "Callin' Out" comes to Vaudeville Mews in support of latest album As U Were, joined by Keys N Krates. Jan. 27 21+ $15